Media releases

• Brock Datathon to highlight growing analytics field

  Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 20 September 2017 – R00167

  Brock University students are leading the charge to educate their peers — and those from other schools — about the world of data analytics.

  In hopes of providing insight into the growing field, a group of like-minded students from various disciplines have come together to host the inaugural Datathon on campus this weekend. The educational conference takes place Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24, and is open to the public.

  Co-organizer Nour Hage, a third-year history and political science student, said a “massive gap” exists in the workforce for data analysts, which opens the door for ambitious students eager to learn.

  Brock’s Goodman School of Business opened its Business Analytics Centre last fall to help students build the highly sought skill.

  “Our goal was to make this event as cross-disciplinary as possible,” Hage said, while adding speakers were selected with backgrounds in business, history, medicine and political science, among others, to share insight into the many uses of data analytics.

  Through a series of presentations from industry experts and hands-on workshops, conference attendees will learn how big data is changing the world and how to think like a data scientist. The day will conclude with a Datathon competition to test those new-found skills.

  There will be opportunity to experiment with the programs being discussed throughout the day during the workshops, which require no prior experience.

  “We want people to walk away with greater knowledge of data analytics — what it is and what its applications are,” Hage said. “We want them to take an interest in this field and explore it a bit on their own time.”

  The event, expected to draw 150 people, is nearly sold out with only a handful of $10 tickets remaining.

  Registration will continue online until Thursday, Sept. 21 or tickets, if still available, can be purchased at the door (Academic South 202) for an increased price.
  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock’s CCOVI helps Grape and Wine crowd educate its senses

  Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 19 September 2017 – R00166

  Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) raised a glass to celebrate its 20th year partnering with the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival on Saturday, Sept. 16.

  Continuing the long-standing tradition, CCOVI hosted three of its popular Educate your Senses wine and cheese seminars in Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines, with some of the sold-out sessions attracting wine lovers from across Ontario, the U.S. and even Australia.

  CCOVI will offer three more seminars at the festival on Saturday, Sept. 23.

  Barb Tatarnic, CCOVI’s Manager of Continuing Education and Outreach, said the institute is proud to celebrate the important milestone.

  “With two decades of bringing quality educational opportunities to the local community through outreach offerings like the Educate Your Senses seminar series, we have solidified our commitment both to the community and the grape and wine industry,” she said. “Over the span of 20 years we’ve poured more than 10,000 glasses of VQA wine to festivalgoers and brought education and VQA wine excellence together, one glass at a time.”

  Brock alumni and Peller Estates winemaker Jason Roller (BSc ’04) got the seminars started Saturday, followed by Ed Madronich, President of Flat Rock Cellars, and winemaker Gavin Robertson, Niagara College Winery.

  Each seminar features discussions with local winemakers, who pour two wines for the audience to sample alongside cheese pairings provided by Real Canadian Superstore.

  The seminars are hosted by Christopher Waters, VINES Magazine editor and CCOVI continuing education instructor. Waters introduces attendees to some of Niagara’s top winemakers, including alumni of Brock’s Oenology and Viticulture program, as they share the experiences and stories behind their wines.

  “It’s a chance to meet talented winemakers and winery principals who will share insights into what they do in a casual, intimate and entertaining tasting seminar,” said Waters. “The guests can find out what truly goes into making the wine in their glass, directly from the winemakers themselves.”

  CCOVI hosted its first sanctioned festival event (Cool Climate Reds — a guided tasting) back in 1997, and Waters launched the Educate Your Senses seminars, alongside now-St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, two years later.

  The institute has been a part of the festival ever since, hosting many unique events and providing thousands of festival attendees with the opportunity to sample VQA wines from the nearly 160 winemakers who have participated in the Educate Your Senses seminars.

  Waters said the enduring partnership between CCOVI and the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival promotes the best of the local wine industry.

  “A milestone like 20 years is a sign of increased maturity for CCOVI and the wine festival,” he added. “The series provides an added level of sophistication and enjoyment to the festival’s line-up, which makes for a better experience for those looking to get the most out of the Montebello Park experience.”

  Educate your Senses Schedule, Saturday, Sept. 23:

  2 p.m. Chris Protonentis, Coyote’s Run

  3 p.m. Brock alumni Richie Roberts, Fielding Estate

  4 p.m. Marc Bradshaw, Strewn

  Location: Roy T. Adams Bandshell, Montebello Park, St. Catharines
  Cost: $3.50 per token, two tokens per seminar. Brock alumni will receive a free wine glass with registration and receive half off the seminar cost. Tokens are available for purchase at Montebello Park throughout each weekend. Registration for seminars will be at the Roy T. Adams Bandshell only. Seminars run rain or shine.
  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases